Berks Arts Council Programs

The Bandshell Concert Series showcases diverse genres of music, such as big band, oldies, blues, folk, polka, Celtic, rock, reggae, and jazz. These concerts, held Friday's in July in Reading's City Park, bring thousands of music lovers to the park's Bandshell - and every show is free.

Held annually in Spring, the Berks Jazz Fest draws 40,000 fans from across the globe. The 10-day festival is renowned as the largest and most diverse on the East Coast, with over 130 concerts featuring a who's-who of jazz and blues headliners.

Individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts in Greater Reading are eligible for this prestigious honor. Awards are given in three categories: Community Leadership and Commitment to the Arts, Patron of the Arts, and Excellence in the Arts.

Berks Arts Council is one of 13 Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) organizations overseen by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Every years, Berks Arts Council convenes artist panels to evaluates grant requests for arts projects, individual artists, and on-going programs. Cash grants of up to $3,000 are awarded annually to organizations conducting arts projects occurring from September 1 to August 31 in Berks, Lancaster, and Schuylkill counties.